Page updated: 06 Oct 2010
Trafford psychological therapies service wins award
A charity commissioned by NHS Trafford to provide interventional psychological therapies under a national programme has won an award for its use of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT).
Self Help Services won the Improving Public Services category at the National eWellbeing Awards held in June.
It provides cCBT for Trafford residents on behalf of NHS Trafford under its Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) plan.
cCBT is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy that can be completed online, helping to reduce the long wait that often exists for face-to-face therapy. It helps people overcome anxiety, depression, fear and phobias by helping to change their unhelpful thought patterns.
The courses take place online using computer packages called ‘Beating the Blues’ and ‘Living Life to the Full’. All patients are assessed before using them.
cCBT is just one of a number of therapies that NHS Trafford has commissioned under its IAPT service.
Sandy Bering, NHS Trafford’s lead on mental health, said: “cCBT, along with other initiatives, is helping to cut down the waiting lists for more intense therapies, because GPs can refer people with mild to moderate problems to charities like Self Help Services providing effective evidence-based support, rather than having to wait to access traditional treatment sessions with specialist therapists.
“So not only are patients with mild problems being seen and treated faster, those with more severe issues are able to be seen more quickly.”
Other key developments under Trafford’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies include:
- Working with Trafford Carer’s Centre to provide wellbeing health checks for carers.
- Recruiting a specialist Parkinson’s disease nurse with the help of Parkinson’s UK.
- Developing a new self help website, www.traffordwellbeing.org.uk, with charity blueSCI.
- Providing 50 lightboxes to help people with Seasonal Affective Disorder cope with mental health problems in winter.
Nic Seccombe, cCBT co-ordinator at Self Help Services, said: “We’re delighted to have gained recognition for the service, which is continuing to help so many people get their lives back on track.”